RASP Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

rasp 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rasp

as in scratch

a harsh grating sound the rusted lock opened with a rasp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

rasp

2 of 2

verb

ˈrasp

as in to rub

to make smooth by friction after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to scratch

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the sound of fingernails rasping on the blackboard makes me cringe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to annoy

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts the two siblings seemed intent on rasping each other for the entire car trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to wear

to damage or diminish by continued friction during the last ice age, glaciers rasped the surface, leaving the deeply scarred rock

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rasp

Noun

Kirbi, that rasp is so beautiful at the top of your register. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025 Her strong, confident country voice shone through immediately in her performance of this Judds song, with just enough rasp to really give it some edge. — Andy Swift, TVLine, 29 Sep. 2025

Verb

When the beetle takes flight, the woman, who is busy unpacking, doesn’t realize for a moment that there’s something out of place about that rasping ruckus, that foreign hum. — María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026 Thrips have rasping, sucking mouthparts. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rasp

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp

Noun

Imagine a small device inside the engine that can polish a scratch, mend minor damage or even 3D-print a replacement part—all performed autonomously and within the cowling.

— Beena Ammanath, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
The lightweight carbon steel body heats water quickly while remaining easier to lift than cast iron alternatives, and the durable porcelain enamel resists rust and scratches.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026

Definition of scratch

Verb

The tool scrapes third-party sources to compile additional information and context about individual tracks.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
Firms have been scraping Truth Social data for months, in violation of TMTG’s terms of ⁠service, according to a spokesperson.

— Reuters, NBC news, 16 July 2026

Definition of scrape

Verb

To make matters worse, the team also polled people on what behaviors annoy them most about other beachgoers.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.

— Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of annoy

Noun

The durable metal is also rust-resistant, and reviews say that despite its metal frame, creaks and squeaks are minimal.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026
Prairie grasses and bonnet strings whip in the wind as the creak of wagon wheels carries across the rippling grassland.

— Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026

Definition of creak

Verb

In January, Clancy and her husband filed separate lawsuits against the medical providers who oversaw Lindsay’s mental health treatment in the months leading up to the killings.

— Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
The investigation also follows a lawsuit Attorney General Ken Paxton filed against a Houston-area postpartum care center.

— Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 July 2026

Definition of file

Verb

Instead, as Laura bugs her sister long enough about just forgiving her already, Mary explodes.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
The group alleged that as well as hacking their phones, journalists from the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday tapped landlines and bugged houses and cars.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026